iPolitics AM: MPs set to quiz Team Trudeau over COVID-19 response during second week of virtual meet-ups

MPs — or, at least, as many as are able to sign in without crashing the server — are set to gather around their respective webcams once again as the 338-member SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC holds its second week of virtual meet-ups.

According to the notice, the online get-together will get underway via Zoom at noon, and will start with a quick — and optional — round of ministerial announcements if required, as well as up to 15 minutes to allow MPs to present petitions before moving to the main event: A 95-minute question-and-answer session that will give opposition members the opportunity to cross-examine the Team Trudeau front bench — including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself, who should be ready to face off against his opposition counterparts — over how the government is handling the current public health crisis.

Before logging on for the noon confab, Trudeau will hold his daily mid-morning media update from his usual spot outside Rideau Cottage. (11 AM)

As per his official itinerary, he’s also booked in for a phone call with his Sudanese counterpart Abdalla Hamdok.

Back in the precinct, only one opposition leader is planning to make himself available to Hill reporters today: Bloc Quebecois chef Yves-Francois Blanchet, who will hit the West Block press theatre after the virtual meeting wraps up. (3 PM)

As yet, there’s no official word on whether Conservative leader Andrew Scheer or New Democrat Jagmeet Singh intend to go before the cameras at some point today, although there’s a good chance one or both will do so.

For his part, Scheer served notice of what will likely be his main line of questioning for the minority Liberals this week.

HEALTH members hear from the Canadian Trucking Alliance, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and the union representing Canadian hospital employees as they continue to monitor the government’s efforts to curtail the spread of the virus. (11 AM – 2 PM)

Over at FINANCE, MPs will focus on the issues facing the construction and manufacturing sectors with a panel discussion that will include commentary from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Canadian Construction Association, United Steelworkers national director Ken Neumann and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, among others, and have also blocked off two hours for a roundtable chat with representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Congress of Aboriginal People, the National Airlines Council and the Research Council of Canada. ( 3 – 7 PM)

Also on the evening agenda: AGRICULTURE members get an update on the federal pandemic response from senior departmental officials from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, as well as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. ( 5- 7 PM)

Due to the ongoing parliamentary shutdown, most House and Senate committee meetings are suspended until regular sittings resume.